On vacation, I do not keep the same hours I do for work. So getting up before the sunrise was rare, but since everyone else was still asleep, I decided to leave a note and go for a walk. I made my way down to Scenic Drive in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, just as the sun was coming up. I was born and raised on the East coast, and so to have the sun rise at my back when I looked at the ocean was a new experience. The marine layer was thick as I made my way down the coastline. The house at the left of the photograph is the Walker house, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. He said that he wanted to design a house “as durable as the rocks and as transparent as the waves.” He achieved this with his uncanny ability.
I love Carmel, and I feel a special kinship to the place. I always feel creative out there, surrounded by the beauty. I understand why Robinson Jeffers called it home, and why so many other artists like Steinbeck were so inspired by this area of California. If I ever win the lottery (and I have a few eggs in this basket), I will find my way out there for part of the year. For now, I will look forward to the next visit and the next morning stroll.
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